22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



is evidently the short cord of nintysix cubic feet. The statement 

 is substantiated by actual measurements. Twenty-four different 

 plantations from five to forty years old show a mean annual yield of 

 from 1.5 to 7.4 long cords f'ev acre, the maximum being for a grove 

 in Alameda county twenty-five years old. In this grove the greatest 

 height was 150 feat and the greatest diameter eighteen inches. In 

 a grove near Pasadena, planted in 1885, there were in 1900 some 

 trees two feet in diameter and many over 100 feet in height. Trees 

 five and six feet in diameter and 175 feet high have been measured, 

 twenty-four to thirty years old. 



The average coppice growth of New England hardwoods is at the 

 rate of 0.6 to 0.7 cords per acre per annum. Comparing these two 

 hardwoods shows the stupendous rate of growth of the eucalyptus. 

 In eight years blue gum yields fifty-six long cords per acre; New 

 England hardwoods in the same time yield 6.7 to 7.8 cords per acre. 

 The yield of eucalyptus in volume is from seven to eight times as 

 great as the best quality of mixed hardwoods. One remarkable 

 thing about blue gum is that it maintains its rapid rate of growth 

 for twelve or fifteen years, and in many eases it continues with very 

 little diminution for thirty years or more. 



While blue gum is not the tallest of the eucalypts in its native 

 habitat, and while it -does not equal other species in any of its spe- 

 cific qualities, except rapidity of growth and general adaptability. 

 Baron von Mueller calls it the prince of eucalypts, the third tallest 

 of the species. Abbott Kinney calls it "a sort of average eucalyp- 

 tus, tall, but not the tallest, used for general purposes, even to piling 

 and shipbuilding. It is not the best timber for any of these pur- 

 poses; not the most lasting in air, ground, or water." 



Before describing the drying experiments, a systematic analysis 

 of what has already been learned of the wood of the various species 

 of the genus will be of value. It will become evident that blue gum 

 is not considered, by authentic writers, of much value for lumber, 

 nor is it durable. By a careful study of the statements of those 

 most familiar with the growing of blue gum in California, supple- 



KEAR VIEW OF TREE NO. 110, SHOWING CHARACTER OF BARK 

 .\ND 24 FEET OF CLEAR LENGTH. 



BLUE GUM TKEE .lUST AUTKK FELLI.NC, SHOWING CH.VIIAC- 

 TERISTIC CHECKS WHICH OCCUR DIRECTLY THE LOG IS SAWED 

 ACROSS, PRODUCED BY THE INTERNAL STRESSES. 



mented by our own observations, and the authentic writings of those 

 who are familiar with the woods of the different species in their 

 native habitat, an attempt will be made to classify this information, 

 and to show what species are suitable for growing in California — 

 for saw timber, durability in the ground, and for pilins. It will 

 be found that out of Fcventy-five or more well-known species tried 

 in California, the number sifts down to a very few. In fact, for 

 general planting throughout the state for saw timber, it appears 

 to reduce to only one, red mahogany (EucaVypius resinifera). The 

 list does not purport to be complete or final, but simply to indicate 

 from what knowledge at present exists on the subject what species 

 should be planted for specific purposes under given conditions. 



.-Vt the present time the blue gum is about the only species in 

 California available in any quantity for sawlogs. Other species have 

 been and are being planted with a commercial view, particularly for 

 lumber and timber. They have in general not yet reached a suflicient 

 size to prove their suitability for the purpose, although a few scat- 

 tered specimens of some of the species over thirty years old may be 

 found. All we have to go by is the statements regarding these 

 species in other countries or in their native habitat. 



There is a remarkable variance in. the statements of different 

 writers in regard to some species. The only way in which a sane 

 judgment can be arrived at, without personal experience with the 

 Ijarticular kind of wood in question, is by studying the concensus of 

 opinion. This variance of opinion may arise through lack of suf- 

 ficient knowledge concerning the wood, or to difference in age or 

 place of growth. 



A digest of literature on the subject, together with the observations 

 of members of the Forest Service, indicates the following species as 

 suitable for planting in certain regions of California on account 

 of climatic adaptibility and for the jiurposes of obtaining durable 

 wood for posts, ties, poles, etc., or for saw timber. Only a few will 

 grow well in nearly all parts of the state, exclusive of the mountains: 



1. Eed mahogany (E. resinifera) is the straightest tree of the 

 species, but only about two-thirds as rapid in growth as blue gum; 

 endures drouth and frost, is suitable for a wide range of climate, but 

 not for growing in alkaline soils. The wood is said to be very durable, 

 strong, excellent for lumber, not very susceptible to attack by 

 teredos. It is of a beautiful rose-pink color. 



2. Sugar gum (E. corynocalyx) is a rather small tree of com- 

 paratively slow growth, exceedingly drought resistant and endures 

 alkali soil and some frost. The wood makes an excellent saw timber, 

 but is said to vary witii the nature of the soil in which it grows. It 

 does not warp or shrink badly. It is fairly durable in the ground, 

 and resistant to the white ant. 



3. Tooart CF. nrm; '^nrrphola) is a medium sized tree. Speci- 



\ 



